Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
Sɛ wo ne ɔhene bi to nsa didi a, hwɛ nea esi wʼanim no yiye,
2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
Sɛ woyɛ adidibrada a, hyɛ wo ho so.
3 Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
Nni nʼaduan akɔnnɔ akɔnnɔ no akyi, efisɛ saa aduan no daadaa nnipa.
4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Mmiri wo mogya ani mpɛ sika; hu nyansa na tɔ wo bo ase.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Wʼani bɔɔ sika so ara pɛ, na atu ayera, ampa ara ebefuw ntaban na atu akɔ wim sɛ ɔkɔre.
6 Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
Nni obi a ɔyɛ pɛpɛe aduan, nni nʼakɔnnɔ aduan akyi;
7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
efisɛ ɔyɛ obi a bere biara osusuw sika ho. Ɔka se, “Didi na nom,” nanso ɛnyɛ ne koma mu.
8 You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Kakra a woadi no wobɛfe, na ɛno nti wo nkamfo so remma mfaso.
9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Nkasa nkyerɛ ɔkwasea, efisɛ ɔremfa nyansa a ɛwɔ wo kasa mu no.
10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Ntutu tete abo a wɔde ato hye ngu, na ntra ɔhye nkɔ ayisaa mfuw mu,
11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
efisɛ wɔn Gyefo yɛ den, na obedi wɔn asɛm ama wɔn.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
Ma wo koma mmra nkyerɛkyerɛ so, na wɛn wʼaso tie nimdeɛ.
13 Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Ntwentwɛn abofra nteɛso so; sɛ wode abaa teɛ no a, ɔrenwu.
Fa abaa twe nʼaso na gye ne kra fi owu mu. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
Me ba, sɛ wo koma hu nyansa a, ɛno de, me koma ani begye;
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
sɛ wʼano ka nea ɛteɛ a me mu ade nyinaa ani begye.
17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
Mma wʼani mmere abɔnefo, mmom bɔ Awurade suro ho mmɔden bere biara.
18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
Ampa ara anidaso wɔ hɔ ma wo daakye, na wʼanidaso renyɛ ɔkwa.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
Me ba, tie, na hu nyansa, ma wo koma mfa ɔkwantrenee so.
20 Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
Mfa wo ho mmɔ akɔwensafo anaasɛ wɔn a wɔpɛ nam mmoroso ho,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
efisɛ, akɔwensafo ne adidibradafo bɛyɛ ahiafo, na anikum fura wɔn ntamagow.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
Tie wʼagya a ɔwoo wo no, na sɛ wo na bɔ aberewa a, mmu no animtiaa.
23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Tɔ nokware na ntɔn da; nya nyansa, ahohyɛso ne nhumu.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Ɔtreneeni agya wɔ anigye bebree; nea ɔwɔ ɔba nyansafo no ani gye ne ho.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
Ma wʼagya ne wo na ani nnye; ma ɔbea a ɔwoo wo no nnya ahosɛpɛw.
26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
Me ba, fa wo koma ma me na ma wʼani nkɔ mʼakwan ho,
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
na oguamanfo yɛ amoa donkudonku ɔyere huhuni yɛ ɔdaadaafo.
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
Ɔtɛw, twɛn, te sɛ ɔkwanmukafo, na ɔma mmarima mu atorofo dɔɔso.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Hena na wɔadome no? Hena na odi awerɛhow? Hena na odi aperepere? Hena na onwiinwii? Hena na ɔwɔ atape nko ara? Hena na mogya ada nʼani so?
30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
Wɔn a wɔkyɛ nsa ho, na wɔka nsa a wɔafrafra hwɛ.
31 Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
Nhwɛ nsa ani kɔkɔɔ no haa, bere a ɛretwa yerɛw yerɛw wɔ kuruwa mu, na ɛkɔ yɔɔ no.
32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
Awiei no, ɛka te sɛ ɔwɔ na ɛwɔ bɔre te sɛ ahurutoa.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
Wʼani behu nneɛma a wunhuu da, na woadwene nneɛma basabasa ho.
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
Wobɛtɔ ntintan te sɛ hyɛn mu dwumayɛni a, okura hyɛn dua a, ɛrehinhim mu den, na ehinhim wɔ po so.
35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
Na wobɛka se, “Wɔbɔ me, nanso mimpira. Wɔboro me, nanso mente ɔyaw biara. Bere bɛn na menyan akɔpɛ nsa anom bio?”
